Perfect Couple ( Superlatives,#2)

☆☆☆☆☆

perfect couple.

Superlatives,#2

jennifer echols.

Publisher Simon Pulse.

Publication Date:January 13,2015

Genre: Ya Contemporary Romance.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|336

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

 

Perfect Couple is #2 in the Superlatives series about seniors at a Florida high school who are selected for their class's superlative categories in the yearbook, and how the labels change the way they view themselves and alter the course of their lives.



Can your heart be put to a popular vote?



As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.



Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.



The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all? 

 

 ϟ

I can tell why so many love Jennifer Echols they are addictive, always filled with drama, suspense and of course, romance. I know I said this about few books, but this is type of series that you won’t want to put down, no matter what. Every page, sentence had me craving for more. I love Echol’s writing style; she has a way with details, which hooks you from the start till the very end. Readers won’t be able to help themselves but fall in love with the characters and get captivated in the story. I know that I was. There was even few times where I found myself reading before work, during my break because I couldn’t get enough, I needed what was going to happen next. I was curious to see if Harper would actually end up with Brody. Perfect Couple seemed more intense, with more drama going on then first book in series Biggest Flirts which I read over the summer. My type of a book.






I wasn’t sure if I liked Harper & Brody’s relationship at first. That was mostly because of Brody, it was hard for me to like him for half of book, of how he acted and how he treated the girls. What he did, to me I had feeling that he used them and once he got tired of them, he ditched them. I was afraid that it’s what he might do with Harper and I liked Harper, didn’t want for her to get hurt. There were quite intense, steamy moments between the two of them though the book and I felt that it was only reason he was hooking up with her, that Brody just wanted one thing from Harper. Maybe at first I didn’t see an actual attraction between two of them, I felt like two of them were hooking up because they got voted for Perfect Couple. As the book progressed, I could clearly see that two of them cared deeply for one another. Even after they found out there were mix up in voting, that it happened by a mistake. I waited for Harper to come to her senses, Brody too and see that two of them belonged with each other. Despite their differences, the two of them had a connection, a bond. All through the book I was rooting for them and was eager to see where their relationship would lead next.




It’s not often I disliked characters in books, but it this case there were two characters I couldn’t bring myself to like. Kennedy. I hated how controlling he was, and mostly how he treated his own girlfriend. He didn’t treat her like a girlfriend half of the time, he was mad half of time, bossy. I didn’t know what Harper even saw in him. Especially way he treated her because she broke up with him, which was not right and not fair to Harper. However, I was glad that she finally stood up to him; she shouldn’t let him treat her like this to begin with. I was glad to see what was coming for him. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to like him in any shape or form; I kind of hoped that he would end up getting fired from yearbook after the stunt he pulled with Harper. And of course Harper was my favorite in this book, she was caring, responsible. She’s a type of person that I would be friends with. I was happy to see that she got her happily ever after.



Series worth every page. Loved that it had expert from the next book Most Likely To Succeed Sawyer’s book who I learned to love while reading Perfect Couple, I can’t wait to read his & Kaye’s story. See what’s in store for them.

Ruby Red( Ruby Red Triology,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

ruby red

Ruby Red Triology,#1

kerstin gier

 Translator
Anthea bell.

Publisher Henry Holt

Publication DateMay 10,2011.

Genre: YA Fantasy| Historical Adventure.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|336.

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!



Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

 ϟ

I can see why Ruby Red is an international bestseller, I was blown away. The writing, the characters and of course the story was thrilling and addictive. As I mentioned before, I love any time travel book. To me I believe that it is one of the best, most fascinating stories out there. However, Ruby Red wasn’t what I had expected it to be. It was so much better. I felt like I had learned so much more about time travel then any of the other time travel books I came across in the past. Ruby Red had a completely unique storyline that no time travel book even mentioned before. A type of a novel that will have you craving for the next book right away, especially the way that this one came to the end. How can you not help but wonder what’s going to happen next? It’s more of that you need to know what’s to come next. One of the books that I had hard time putting down.



Ruby Red was one of those time travel books, that’s more action, suspense filled then romance. Lately there haven’t been too many I came across that had romance in it. That’s one of things that I actually loved about this book, how much action was in it and not just action, but top of that it had some historical aspect to it as well. A fantasy and history mixed together in one book that is my type of book. Love historical books as much as I do fantasy. Ruby Red had quite bit of historical aspect of time travel in there and way that it was described and written that it almost had me believing that it exists. In a way I could actually picture it. It had me wanting to time travel myself. Though way that Gwyneth and Gideon came across while they were was pretty scary, the two of them couldn’t seem to catch a break. I have a feeling that it’s not the last time they face trouble as well.



I couldn’t help but love Gwyneth. Mostly her attitude and how she didn’t let Gideon walk all over her. Considering how she found that she had the time traveler gene, I believe she mostly handled it very well. I can’t even begin to imagine how it feels, when you think you lead a normal life when all of sudden, out of blue, you realize that you can travel time. Especially the way that she kept on disappearing. I know if I was in her situation, I would freak out much more than she was. Gideon had his thoughts of her wrong, she’s brave, and unlike all those others girls out there. I found myself wondering if he will find that out himself towards the end, and see her in different light. I had myself hoping that he would. At first I didn’t see them ending up together, but by middle of book I could tell that they cared for one another, even if they wouldn’t admit it.



Love Fantasy? History, Science fiction with bit of romance? You won’t be disappointed by this book. A thrilling adventure, will have you rooting for more.

Proven Guilty ( Dresden Files, #8)

☆☆☆☆☆

proven guilty

Dresden Files,#8

Jim butcher.

Publisher ROC

Publication DateFebruary 6,2007

Genre:Urban Fantasy|Mystery.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|404

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

 

There's no love lost between Harry Dresden, the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, and the White Council of Wizards, who find him brash and undisciplined. But war with the vampires has thinned their ranks, so the Council has drafted Harry as a Warden and assigned him to look into rumors of black magic in the Windy City.



As Harry adjusts to his new role, another problem arrives in the form of the tattooed and pierced daughter of an old friend, all grown-up and already in trouble. Her boyfriend is the only suspect in what looks like a supernatural assault straight out of a horror film. Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in Chicago, but it's all in a day's work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob.... 

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How can you not love Harry Dresden? Especially after he went through, what he did for Molly in this book. Is it me or do books keep getting better and better? More I read the series, more I get hooked into it. One thing I did notice, as Dresden Files series progressed more, more intense and dark it seems to get. Anyone else get that feeling? Proven Guilty was pretty intense; at least it seemed like it to me. First it took place at horror Convention and all those horror monsters come to live, that would scare anyone. Top of it, involved dark magic from the most unexpected person. How can you not enjoy the book that has so much going on? Even though I am not big fan of extreme horror or horror movies but even I enjoyed it. Though I didn’t know half of those movies but I recognized some. I could actually imagine the horror that all those people were going through. The movie theatre scene was described so well, I could actually see the terror that all of those people were facing. I saw their terrified faces, heard their screams. To me, it was even scary to read about it. Butcher draws a vivid image through descriptions every time.




Poor Harry, he can’t seem to catch a break. At times I find myself wondering how he is still alive. The torture he goes through, I can’t even begin to understand how he can make through all this pain. I know that he is tough but you can’t help but feel sorry for him at times. Amount of torture he went through in Proven Guilty, I was actually surprised that he made it through without some sort of permanent damage. That’s one of things that I love about Harry, his courage, his dedication. No matter what happens, he keeps on going and he doesn’t stop till he comes to some sort of resolution. Look at what he went through to go rescue Molly when she got kidnapped, the lengths that he went through, to make sure that she made it to safety. What he did to her at trial, how he did everything possible to make sure she wasn’t killed. Even though at the end it put his own life at risk. He always seems to put others ahead of himself.




Now Molly, she is going to be trouble I can tell. Did you ever have a feeling that a character might not be what they seem? That’s a feeling I have about Molly. I believe that if Harry doesn’t help her, and structure her in some way, she might be in trouble. Especially since she realized how much power she has in her magic. It was clear that she will be in trouble if he doesn’t help her, from the soul gaze. What he saw wasn’t Molly that everyone knows and loves. I just hope that he would be able help her to control magic or in the end, both of them are going be dead. Despite her issues, I can’t help but like Molly and hope all the best for her. Charity, another character I wasn’t fond off, not till I read Proven Guilty, afterwards I felt like I understood more about her. The length she went through to rescue her daughter told me that she is good person and would risk her own life for her children. She got courage.




Another great addition to the Dresden Files. I was hooked. I can’t wait to see what happens in next installment.

Dead Beat(Dresden Files, #7)

☆☆☆☆☆

dead beat

Dresden Files,#7

Jim butcher.

Publisher ROC

Publication DateMay 2,2006

Genre:Urban Fantasy|Mystery.

Format|Pages:Hardcover| 517

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

There's an entire world that exists alongside the everyday life of mankind. There are powers, nations, monsters, wars, feuds, alliances - everything. Wizards are part of it. So are a lot of other things you've heard about in stories, and even more you've never heard of...Vampires. Werewolves. Faeries. Demons. Monsters. It's all real.



Harry Dresden knows full well that such creatures exist. Paranormal investigations are his stock-in-trade, and Chicago is his beat as he tries to bring law and order to a world that exists on the edges of imagination. Luckily Harry's not alone in this struggle. And though most inhabitants of the Windy City don't believe in magic, there's a department that's been set up within the Chicago PD to deal with "strange" cases: the Special Investigations department.



Karrin Murphy is the head of SI and a good friend of Harry's. So when a deadly vampire threatens to destroy Murphy's reputation unless Harry helps her, he has no choice. The vampire wants the Word of Kemmler and all the power that comes with it - but first Harry has to determine what the Word of Kemmler is. Now Harry is in a race against time - and six necromancers - to find the Word before Chicago experiences a Halloween night to wake the dead

 ϟ

Brilliant. That’s a word that best describes Dead Beat . Jim Butcher did it again, an author that can’t disappoint you. The more you read the series, more you will find yourself getting hooked into it. More than once I found myself reading late because I did not want to put it down. It felt like through the series I got to know all characters, especially Harry so well. To me all those characters are real, and when I read about their new adventures, I always find myself rooting for them to make it through. That’s one of things that I love about Butcher writing, he has a way to draw you into the stories and follow along with them. Dead Beat wasn’t any different. All through the book, there were places where I held my breath, where I found myself hoping that Harry will figure out what Word Of Kemmler is before he got himself killed. Dead Beat was one of most intense, emotional book in series so far, or at least that’s how it felt like to me. From the start of the book to the end, I was on the edge of my seat.



Poor Harry. I know he went through a lot through the series. But amount of torture, pain that he went through in here; I don’t even know how he handled it to be honest. If I were him, I would retire from the detective business a long time ago. The amount of times that he almost got killed. I got one thing to say, that others might think that Harry is stubborn. But he always puts others ahead of himself. He cares about others. The only reason he even got into so much trouble, was because he was trying to protect Murphy which is sweet. It actually made me curious, could Thomas be right? Could Harry actually feel something for Murphy, that’s why he went so many lengths to protect her? After reading this book, I am curious to see if there would be slight developments in their storyline in next few books. As much as I love Susan, I kind of hope that there would be. I finally thought maybe Harry found someone when Sheila came into picture, never did I imagine she was nothing but a demon. I actually found myself disappointed when it was discovered.



Butters, now that’s a character that you could see developed, a lot through the book. I was aware of Butters before but he was never a big part of book, all you knew of him is that he was medical examiner. Till Dead Beat, he became pretty big part of storyline. I never realized how afraid he was of everything. I can’t imagine living in so much fear, for most of your life. But as book progressed, you can tell that by little he started to overcome it a bit. He still has a long way to go, but what he did for Harry towards the end of book, that takes a lot of courage. I am eager to see what happens with character next but I can tell that he became very important to Harry. I got a feeling that two of them are going to be very good friends.



Another great edition to the series. Be ready for a wild ride.

Losing At Love ( Outer Banks Tennis Academy,#2)

☆☆☆☆☆

Losing at love

Outer Banks Tennis Academy,#2

Jennifer iacopelli.

 Publisher JCI Books. 

Publication Date:February 24,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance|Sports

Format|Pages:E Book|206

 Source: Own| Goodreads.

 

Grass courts, tennis whites and the fiercest competition in the world. Wimbledon. After two crazy weeks in Paris, the girls of the Outer Banks Tennis Academy are headed to London with just one thing on their minds: winning.



Indiana Gaffney is fresh off a surprise win at the French Open junior tournament. Sponsors are clamoring for her attention, but what she wants more than anything—aside from a wild card to Wimbledon—is to be with Jack Harrison, but international fame and a secret relationship rarely mix well.



When Penny Harrison dreamed of playing at Wimbledon she never imagined agonizing pain shooting through her ankle with every step. With just a month until the tournament and the whole world expecting her to win, she’s determined to play, with or without the support of her coach or the love of her life, Alex Russell.



For the first time ever, no one expects anything from Jasmine Randazzo. After a crushing first-round defeat in the French Open juniors, the tennis world has given up on her, but worse than that, so have her parents, her best friend Teddy and maybe even her coach. With everyone writing her off, can she find it within herself to go after her dreams?

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Have you ever come across series, which you wished you picked up earlier? Once you did, you could not get enough of. Outer Banks Tennis Academy is that series for me. Despite my lack of knowledge of tennis, there wasn’t a thing that I didn’t love about the book. Neither of them. I loved Game.Set. Match I enjoyed Losing At Love a bit more than the first book. To me, it felt that there was much more action going on through the book than the first book. Of course, here the girls got even more competitive than they were in the first novel. Reading Losing At Love you can’t help but feel connected to all of the three girls even if you didn’t experience what they had. Even after reading the 2nd book, I still can’t determine which of the girls my favorite is because each one of them has something, which I like. Each of the girls are so different, yet they connect so well with one another, most of the time.



I don’t know how Penny did it; actually I was surprised that she was actually able to go through it, for as long as she did. Towards the end of Game. Set. Match I wondered what would happen now, that she was injured. How it would affect her and of course if she able to hold off, for that long without training. It’s very clear how much Tennis, and competing means to Penny in this book. Despite her injury, she decided to keep on training and dropping out of Wimbledon completion wasn’t even an option to her, it was like she needed to win. Part of me was worried about Penny when she started to train before she was supposed to. I was sure that she would manage to injure herself even more, to point where it get to point where she would never be able to play again. I was glad when Penny finally came to her senses and withdrew from completion, and I knew how hard that was for her to do.



What I love about this book is how realistic it is. Not all of the books are realistic way that Losing At Love Is, especially when it sport related. Both the way the game is how completive almost everyone is. The communication between the characters. I love fact that it has more sports, more action then it does romance. I love Romance but once in a while, it’s good to read something that is slightly different. I didn’t even realize how competive the girls really are till I read Losing At Love. There isn’t anything that I would change about the book. After reaching the end, I am even more curious than ever what’s in store for everyone next.

Game. Set.Match(Outer Banks Tennis Academy,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

game.set.match

Outer Banks Tennis Academy,#1

Jennifer iacopelli.

 Publisher Coliloquy, LLC

Publication Date:April 29,2013

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance|Sports

Format|Pages:E Book|242

 Source: Own| Goodreads.

 


Nestled along the North Carolina coast, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the world's most elite training facility. In this pressure-cooker environment, futures are forged in blood and sweat, and dreams are shattered in an instant.



Penny Harrison, a rising female star, is determined to win the French Open and beat her archrival, Zina Lutrova. But when her coach imports British bad boy Alex Russell as her new training partner, will Penny be able to keep her laser-like focus?



Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. The daughter of two Grand Slam champions, she's hell-bent on extending her family’s legacy and writing her own happily-ever-after...until her chosen Prince Charming gives her the just-friends speech right before the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.



With a powerful serve and killer forehand, newcomer Indiana Gaffney is turning heads. She’s thrilled by all of the attention, especially from Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and hot older brother, except he keeps backing off every time things start heating up.



With so much at stake, dreams—and hearts—are bound to break. Welcome to OBX: Where LOVE is a four-letter word, on and off the court.

 ϟ

I’m not much into sports, the only sports I really enjoy is Baseball & Hockey. Yet, I love Sports books, at least in past few years. Tennis had been one sport that I wanted to learn, but due to my busy schedule never got chance to. Game. Set. Match was an incredible book; I could not pull myself away from the book, every page, every character kept my attention. I was eager to see what happens with Indiana, Jasmine and Penny next. How far the girls were going to go. I knew a bit about Tennis prior to reading this book because my cousin played the sport for years. After I finished Game. Set. Match I felt like I learned even more about sport then before. Game. Set. Match is one book where you won’t find one dull moment. There isn’t a single page that isn’t filled with some sort of suspense, drama or action. You will find yourself pulled into Penny, Indiana & Jasmine’s stories.



Penny, Indiana & Jasmine : Each one of them are great in their own way. I am not even sure who I like the most, honestly it’s hard for me to pick because I love all the girls. Though in beginning I wasn’t happy with Jasmine and way that she treated Indiana, because she was jealous how fast Indiana processed. Making her life miserable at the academy wouldn’t make her get ahead. Indiana was a good Tennis player even if she needed some improvement, which player doesn’t? I was glad that at least Penny was there for Indiana, to welcome her. I know how it feels like to be the new kid. It’s hard not to love Penny; she’s sweet, loyal and a very hard worker. I can tell that she takes Tennis very seriously. What other player finish playing match on sprained ankle? That takes a lot. I don’t think that I would be able to finish with that much pain. That takes a lot. Of course it makes me curious how far Penny will go? What’s going to happen now that she is injured. I also believe that putting Jasmine & Indiana as double team was a great call; I don’t think that their rival would end otherwise. The two of them make a great team when they not fighting with one another, and I think that they would make even better friends. I wonder if they keep competing as double team. Each of girls have their own talent and I believe each of them have a great talent and career in tennis.




Now the boys, how can you not love the boys? I know that I did. Alex, Jack, Teddy were great addition to the story, especially considering that Alex also used be a tennis player. There were tension between them and their love interest through most of the book. Jack & Indiana, I could tell that there was attraction between the two of characters from moment that two of them met, till he found out that she was only 17. Afterwards he tried everything he could to avoid her and I feel that he would kept on doing it, till both Indiana and Jasmine talked to him. The scenes between the two of them were pretty heated and I was waiting for Jack to finally come to his senses. Anyone could see there was something between Alex & Penny from start, even if we weren’t aware of their past. Despite her leaving that night, I could tell that she still felt something for him; she just refused to admit it, because she was afraid of what might happen if it did. Teddy & Jasmine, I wasn’t sure if Teddy liked her and didn’t want admit that he did, or was just confused. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to think of their relationship but I do hope their friendship gets to way it was before.




Game. Set. Match is about love, friendship, how far to go to follow your dreams, and of course, Tennis. A must read for both sports and romance fans. You will be wanting to pick up Losing At Love right after.

Blood Rites ( Dresden Files,#6)

☆☆☆☆☆

Blood rites

Dresden Files,#6

Jim butcher.

 Publisher ROC

Publication Date:August 3,2004

Genre:Urban Fantasy|Mystery.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|439.

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

For Harry Dresden, there have been worse assignments than going undercover on the set of an adult film. Still, there’s something more troubling than usual about his newest case. The film’s producer believes he’s the target of a sinister curse-but it’s the women around him who are dying.



Harry’s even more frustrated because he only got involved with this bizarre mystery as a favor to Thomas-his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can’t quite figure out. But Harry is about to discover that Thomas’ family tree has been hiding a shocking revelation that will change his life forever…

 ϟ

I believe that this is one of Butcher’s best novels, out of Dresden Files. So far. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy his other books in series, I did. However Blood Rites was one of those novels that I could not put down till I reached the end. Actually I did not want to put it down. It made me happy that I got few days off due to snow day. It gave me time to read it, and there were couple nights that I ended up reading late without realizing it. Butcher had the reader so involved with Harry’s story that I could actually feel, see everything that Harry was going through in the book. I had a feeling like I was actually there, going on adventures along with Harry, Thomas, Murphy. How can you not wonder what’s going to happen next? If they will succeed? I was and I couldn’t seem to get enough of their adventures. Blood Rites had a nonstop action, mystery.




Thomas: what is there to say about him? Expect that you can help but love him, despite him being a vampire. From the minute that I met him, I had a feeling about him, that he was different from the other vampires. At same time I did wonder what his intentions in helping Harry were. Who would a vampire want help a wizard? Thomas being Harry’s half-brother wasn’t what I expected. But it had me understanding their bond much more. To me, it felt like from moment that two of them, there was a bond there between two of them. Thomas isn’t like other vampires, despite his denial, I know that he cares for Justine, more than he wants admit. Otherwise he wouldn’t stopped at last minute, or see how she was afterwards. He’s in love. I am curious to see how Thomas and Harry will do as roommates, what else they will learn about one another.




The more I read The Dresden Files more Murphy becomes one of my favorite characters in the series. She’s tough; she doesn’t let anyone take a advantage of her and never gives up. I can tell that her job is important to her, and that she cares about safety of the others. We need more cops like her out here. Of course I love the bond between Harry and Murphy, what the two of them have is a real friendship. I am glad that their friendship got back on track, to the way that it used be before. I just hope that it stays like that for good now. I just wish that others would appreciate her more, including her own mother. I am not big fan of how her family treats her. What she does is a lot of work and dangerous as well.



Blood Rites is one book that you want check out. It has action, adventure, suspense with a lot of mystery added in the mix. You will find yourself turning the pages for hours to come. Be ready for a wild ride.